Candidates pack field for Wisconsin Senate recall elections

Apr. 11, 2012

Written by

Todd Richmond

The Associated Press

MADISON — Candidates looking to challenge four Republican state senators in this spring's recall elections filed nomination papers with state election officials Tuesday, setting up a potentially packed field.

Each candidate had until 5 p.m. to turn in at least 400 signatures to Wisconsin's Government Accountability Board to ensure a spot on the ballot. Nine challengers had filed signatures by the deadline, including a handful of fake Democrats who are running to help protect Republican incumbents.

GAB officials reported that Lori Compas, a Democrat looking to unseat Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, turned in 797 signatures. They were still counting the other candidates' signatures early Tuesday evening.

Candidates who turned in enough valid signatures have until 4:30 p.m. Friday to file financial interest statements, the final step before getting on the ballot. Any challenges to their signatures would be due at that time.

Democrats have forced four GOP senators, along with Republican Gov. Scott Walker and Republican Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, into recall elections as payback for passing a polarizing law last year that stripped almost all public workers of nearly all their union rights.

The elections are scheduled for May 8 and June 5. If any primaries are needed, they'll be held on May 8.

But four of the Senate challengers entered the races as fake Democrats. The Wisconsin GOP lined them up to force a primary election in each race to ensure no Republican incumbent would face a general election on May 8, when Democrats would likely be out en masse to pick their gubernatorial candidate.

"Their candidacy will ensure election fairness going forward and guarantee there is one primary and general election date for all candidates," GOP spokesman Ben Sparks said in a statement.

Democrats forced incumbent Sen. Pam Galloway, R-Wausau, into a recall, but she has resigned, leaving it vacant. Galloway's resignation left Republicans and Democrats sharing control of the Senate 16-16.

Democrats would gain complete control of the chamber if they can defeat a single incumbent.

If all the candidates who filed Tuesday qualify for the ballot, the races would shape like this:

» Compas, a Fort Atkinson photographer, would face fake Democrat Gary Ellerman of Lake Mills in the primary for Senate District 13. The winner would face Fitzgerald on June 5.

» Former Rep. John Lehman, D-Racine, would face fake Democrat Tamra Lynn Varebrook of Union Grove in the primary in Senate District 21. The winner would face incumbent Republican Sen. Van Wanggaard of Racine.

» Former Rep. Kristen Dexter, D-Eau Claire, would face fake Democrat James Engel of Fall Creek in the primary in Senate District 23. The winner would take on incumbent Republican Sen. Terry Moulton of Chippewa Falls.

» Rep. Donna Seidel, D-Wausau, would face fake Democrat Jim Buckley of Antigo in a May 8 primary in Senate District 29. The winner would face Rep. Jerry Petrowski, a Marathon Republican, in the June 5 general election.